Events in Cornwall: July - December 2009

5th

The first Summer Service of 2009 will be held at Gwennap Pit on Sunday 5th July 2009 and will be led by the Rev. Arthur Cowburn.

Come and experience this unique venue.

10th

Following the release of his acclaimed album 22 Dreams, former 'Jam' and 'Style Council' frontman Paul Weller is playing a special gig at the Eden Project on Friday 10th July.

The Eden Session is being staged in support of the Prince's Rainforests Project, one of Prince Charles' causes. Its aim to 'build awareness about the need to slow the deforestation of the tropical rainforests and combat climate change'.

Accommodation and things to do in St Austell

12th

A chance to see inside the Veryan Preserved Royal Observer Corps Post on Nare Head, where members of the Corps were expected to operate in the event of an atomic attack. Contains much of the original equipment. Free, but donations welcome.
Telephone 01872 278234 for more details.

13th

Held in the middle of July each year Stithians Show is the biggest one-day show in Cornwall.

Primarily an agricultural show, Stithians Show offers many things of interest to all. There are Steam, Vintage and classic Motorcycles, Tractors and Stationary Engines, a Rare Breeds Section as well as sections for Cattle, Cage Birds, Pigeons, Rabbits, Goats and Poultry. A Horticulture Section offers gardeners the chance to show off their vegetables and flowers and gain prizes. There will also be a number of craft stalls as well as karate and fly tieing demonstrations throughout the day rounded off by the Grand Evening Concert at 8pm.

16th - 18th

From Thursday 16th to Saturday 18th July (10am-6pm) at Lemon Quay, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 2LL

Following the success of last year's visit, Blast returns with more FREE multi-media workshops and showcase events for teenagers.
Participants can use the latest technology, share ideas and creative skills, learn from media-industry professionals, and try music, film and radio production, theatre, dance, fashion and other workshops.

All workshops are free - see www.bbc.co.uk/blast/events or email: blast-truro@bbc.co.uk for more info and to sign up.

18th

Camborne Show is primarily an agricultural show along the lines of the Royal Cornwall and Stithians Shows. Held atop the cliffs at Gwealavellan Farm, north of Camborne it is most easily reached by a free bus from the town.

The Show offers members of the general public as well as the townspeople a chance to mingle with members of the farming community. A large number of displays and craft stalls ensure that there is something of interest for everyone. There is Horsejumping, a Cattle Field, as well as the usual shopping opportunities. In past years there have been Falconry displays and sheepdogs showing off their skills, rounding up ducks. The marquees, house all manner of things to see, from Poultry and other Cage Birds to Goats and even some Llamas. Other tents house the Handicraft and Horticultural Sections where local people offer up their produce to be judged to gain that elusive First Prize card or rosette. Come along, you won't be disappointed!

Accommodation and things to do in Camborne

18th

This coastal farm near Zennor includes round houses, courtyard houses, field boundaries, mining relics and a cliff castle. Dogs on leads are welcome. Meet at Bosigran Farm Grid Ref. SW4268 3700. Donations Appreciated

20th - 24th

SHAKESPEARE'S GLOBE ON TOUR present A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM by William Shakespeare on JULY 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 at 8 pm and JULY 22 & 24 at 2 pm at the Minack Theatre, Porthcurno.

You know the story! Hermia loves Lysander and Helena loves Demetrius – but Demetrius is supposed to be marrying Hermia. When the Duke of Athens tries to enforce the marriage, the lovers take refuge in the woods outside the city, and walk into the midst of a dispute between the King and Queen of the fairies. And they are not alone. So, too, does a group of amateur actors rehearsing a play. Between the angry fairies, the bumbling players and the dazed lovers, flies Puck armed with a love juice capable of making anyone fall for the first person they set eyes upon – no matter how unsuitable.

Shakespeare put some of his most dazzling dramatic poetry at the service of this teasing, glittering, very funny and amazingly inventive play, whose seriousness is fleetingly glimpsed beneath its dreamlike surface.

This is the third year of open-air touring for Shakespeare’s Globe on Tour, taking touring productions out from the Globe to castles, festivals, parks and town squares. We are delighted to welcome the company to Minack.

26th

Day-long celebration on St. Michael's Mount, near Penzance. Local bands, choirs and dance troupes, children's fun, Punch and Judy, BBQ and Craft Stalls and more.

27th - 31st

JANUS THEATRE COMPANY present TREASURE ISLAND at the Minack Theatre, Porthcurno.

Adapted by Phil Wilmott from the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson

JULY 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 at 8 pm and JULY 29 & 31 at 2 pm

Janus Theatre Company are delighted to be returning to the Minack Theatre with this production of Treasure Island.

This is the first adaptation of Treasure Island with great parts for male and female performers. Inspired by real-life female adventurers, Phil Willmott has changed the gender of several of the central characters without compromising the spirit of Stevenson’s classic novel.

This swashbuckling stage adaptation brings out all the comedy and adventure of this ever-popular story. Fun for all the family!

Bristol based Janus Theatre Company has been formed especially to perform at the Minack Theatre – our members are drawn from groups across the Bristol area and further afield!

29th - 30th

Ear plugs not included! Watch in fascination as the castle's gun crew and Cornwall-based Stargun Company fire guns and cannons dating form the 1500s to WWII. The roar of gunfire will conjure up the explosive atmosphere of a battleground, as visitors are taken on a tour through the evolution of weaponry.

Throughout the day visitors can watch demonstrations of a whole range of different artillery and hear tales of how these were used in action. The event will culminate in the firing of the 'Long Tom', a US Second World War field gun with a 14 mile range, unique to Pendennis Castle.

Accommodation and things to do in Falmouth

1st

Lughnasadh was one of the four main festivals of the medieval Irish calendar: Imbolc at the beginning of February, Beltaine on the first of May, Lughnasadh in August and Samhain in October. One early Continental Celtic calendar was based on the lunar, solar, and vegetative cycles, so the actual calendar date in ancient times may have varied. Lughnasadh marked the beginning of the harvest season, the ripening of first fruits, and was traditionally a time of community gatherings, market festivals, horse races and reunions with distant family and friends.
In Celtic mythology, the Lughnasadh festival is said to have been begun by the god Lugh, as a funeral feast and games commemorating his foster-mother, Tailtiu, who died of exhaustion after clearing the plains of Ireland for agriculture.

2nd

Come and explore the Mystical village of Tintagel, walk the coast path, visit Merlin's Cave and a castle maybe once used by King Arthur.

Later relax and watch young and old enjoy Tintagel Carnival.

For more information contact our colleagues at Tintagel Web below.

3rd - 7th

Sign up beneath the skull and crossbones for piratical pastimes, including games, stories and plenty of yo, ho, ho!

All children are welcome to join in the Time Travellers Go... events. An additional £1 will be charged on standard admission for every child, member and non member, to help us fund this entertainment activity.

Accommodation and things to do in Falmouth

5th - 9th

The Relentless Boardmasters in association with Vans 2009 is the most complete event for lovers of music, surf and action sports. With 3 sites across Newquay offering surf, skate, bmx, daily live music acts and a music festival for 12,500 people the Relentless Boardmasters in association with Vans 2009 will be the highlight of the UK summer. Add to that a fresh injection of enthusiasm from exciting new deals with Relentless and Vans the event will be taken to a new level.

For any news or updates on the Relentless Boardmasters in association with Vans please visit www.relentlessboardmasters.com

6th

Bring your own food to a barbecue and listen to a talk on bats with a chance to see Greater Horseshoe Bats emerge from their roost at dusk.
Park at the Lead Mines car park, Grid Ref. SW 941 800
From 7.30pm to 10pm. Cost £2.

10th - 14th

THE ILKLEY PLAYHOUSE present THE CRUCIBLE by Arthur Miller at the Minack Theatre, Porthcurno on AUGUST 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 at 8 pm and 12 & 14 at 2 pm.

It is 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts and one of the most compelling and prophetic events in history is about to unfold, spreading like a contagion through the community of Puritan settlers. Local farmer John Proctor has committed adultery with a young girl who worked for him: she will stop at nothing to recapture his heart, accusing others of witchcraft and igniting the flames of hysteria. The authorities believe the Devil is behind these events and must be crushed. Determined to restore order, they use fear as a method of control while the townspeople use the compensating defence of gossip and slander.

'The Crucible' also comments on the US Government’s methods of rooting out Communist sympathisers in 1950s America, another era when people pointed fingers at others to save their own careers and reputations.

Arthur Miller wrote The Crucible over 50 years ago, but the play has uncomfortable resonances which still make it hugely relevant today.

13th

Bring your own food to a barbecue and listen to a talk on bats with a chance to see Greater Horseshoe Bats emerge from their roost at dusk.
Park at the Lead Mines car park, Grid Ref. SW 941 800
From 7.30pm to 10pm. Cost £2.

15th

Come and enjoy an action packed day for the whole family, See the Ladies play the Coaches in a Tag match, Meet this season's First Team players. Enjoy the Club facilities: Gates open at Noon.

There is ample parking and the ground is in a great setting.

Find out how you can sponsor a player or match for the 2009/2010 season.

Non Stop Fun for the young including Super Sumo and Bouncy Castle, Human Table Football, Swingboats, Fairground Rides and barbecue.

Watch the 'Cornish All Blacks' First Team in a Pre-season friendly against Barnstaple

Contact Launceston RFC on 01566 773406, for more details.

Accommodation and things to do in Launceston

16th

A chance to see inside the Veryan Preserved Royal Observer Corps Post on Nare Head, where members of the Corps were expected to operate in the event of an atomic attack. Contains much of the original equipment. Free, but donations welcome.
Telephone 01872 278234 for more details.

30th - 31st

Witness the majesty, pomp and pageantry as Henry VIII arrives at Pendennis Castle. Actors, players, knights, soldiers and ladies accompany the enigmatic King and his Queen as they take part in mounted hunting games and are entertained with demonstrations of Tudor falconry. Courtly music fills the air to set the scene for a magnificent highlight each day of Tudor horsemanship which includes a duo of fully armoured knights in a full contact joust.

Accommodation and things to do in Falmouth

4th - 7th

The only Beer festival to come in two halves...

Combining a wide selection of real ales from across Britain with excellent food whilst listening to some great live music.

Four and five night packages are available for this event.

If you missed our Festival in the middle of May why not pop over and experience this unbeatable event.

5th

A chance to see inside the Veryan Preserved Royal Observer Corps Post on Nare Head, where members of the Corps were expected to operate in the event of an atomic attack. Contains much of the original equipment. Free, but donations welcome.
Telephone 01872 278234 for more details.

12th - 26th

The St Ives September Festival is the cultural highlight of the year in St. Ives. Crowds flock to various venues around the town to be entertained by a number of musicians, poets, artists and visual performers.

Recent acts playing the September Festival have included 'Nerina Pallot', 'Show of Hands', 'Carthy Swarbrick' and 'Seth Lakeman', to name just a few. This year's confirmed gigs include 'Bellowhead' on 12th September at the Guildhall and 'Devil's Creek' the following night at The Lifeboat Inn. Other highlights are The Bohemians at the Guildhall on the 26th and The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain on the 22nd at the same venue.

If you are at all into the folk scene or just enjoy a darn good time, make sure you visit St. Ives at Festival time.

Come early though, as this event is extremely popular!

Accommodation and things to do in St Ives

14th - 18th

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY G. & S. SOCIETY present THE MIKADO by W. S. Gilbert and A. Sullivan at the Minack Theatre, Porthcurno on SEPTEMBER 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 at 8 pm and 16 & 18 at 2 pm.

Set in the Japanese town of Titipu and featuring an array of memorable characters including a wand’ring minstrel, three little maids and a high executioner faced with cutting off his own head, this most-famous of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operas is sure to delight and entertain audiences of all ages.

19th - 20th

MOUNT CHARLES BAND present PROMS AT THE MINACK with guest soloist Cheryl Brendish, on Saturday SEPTEMBER 19th at 7.30pm and Sunday SEPTEMBER 20th at 2.00pm and 7.30 pm.

Bring your flags, hooters and whistles and join in the fun.

The traditional 'Last Night of the Proms' atmosphere makes a great end to the season.

Accommodation and things to do in Penzance

20th

From 11.30am to 1.30pm.

Iron Age hill fort and symbolic gateway to West Penwith since prehistoric times. Meet at Trencrom Hill car park, Grid Ref. SW 5176 3596
Adult £3, Child £1.50 (free if arriving by public transport). For more information Telephone 01736 796 993.

25th

(Clocks go back at 1am GMT)

1st

(Celtic Season)

12th - 15th

The Eighth Cornwall Film Festival will take place Thursday 12th - Sunday 15th November 2009 in Falmouth, Cornwall.

The Cornwall Film Festival is an annual celebration of Cornish and international filmmaking. The Festival offers local and national premieres, professional development workshops, lectures and parties providing the opportunity to network with the UK's leading industry professionals.

Accommodation and things to do in Falmouth